Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole



Sept. 23, 1958 s. T. MORGAN 2,853,290

APPARATUS FOR PLUGGI NG A FURNACE TAPPING HOLE Filed June 25. 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 o INVENTOR SIDNEY T. MORGAN Sept. 23, 1958 s. T. MORGAN2,853,290 APPARATUS FOR PLUG GING A FURNACE TAPPING HOLE Filed June 25,1957 FIG4 APPARATUS FOR PLUGGING A FURNACE TAPPING HOLE Sidney T.Morgan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Salem- Erosius, line, Carnegie,Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl= VEEEZI Application June 25, 1957, SerialNo. 667,887

7 Claims. (Cl. 266-42) This invention relates -to apparatus for plugginga furnace tapping hole, the apparatus comprising what is commonly knownin the art as a clay gun or mud gun having a nose or nozzle which isadapted to be introduced into the tapping hole of the furnace when it isdesired to stop the flow of molten metal from the furnace through thetapping hole and means for forcing clay or similar material for pluggingthe tapping hole through the nose of the gun and into the tapping holewhere the clay hardens due to the heated environment and serves as astopper for the tapping hole until it is next desired to tap moltenmetal from the furnace, at which time the stopper or plug is puncturedand ultimately removed by the outflow of molten metal. ployed to plug orstop the tapping holes of blast furnaces.

The environment in which apparatus of the type above referred to isemployed is such that the apparatus is subjected to great heat sincewhen the furnace is being tapped the molten metal flows past and inclose proximity to the apparatus. The apparatus should be mechanicallyoperable so as to reduce to a minimum the necessity for workmen workingclose to the tapping hole. The mechanism should he as simple as possiblewhile accomplishing its function not only to maintain the cost of theapparatus at a minimum but also to withstand the heated environment andto facilitate maintenance. I

Apparatus of the type in question is mounted adjacent the furnacetapping hole so that the clay gun may move into and out of the tappinghole and when removed from the tapping hole be positioned where it maybe loaded, i. e., where a new charge of clay may be introduced ready forthe succeeding plugging operation. It is desirable for the gun to be ingenerally horizontal position for loading whereas it assumes adownwardly inclined position when plugging a tapping hole. Consequently,provision is made for tilting the gun between generally horizontal orloading position and inclined or operative position. Also the gun mustbe advanceable into and retractable from the tapping hole. Heretoforethe mechanisms provided for accomplishing those functions have beencomplex and expensive and have required considerable maintenance.

I have provided apparatus of thetype in question which is relativelysimple and rugged and hence not likely to become out of order, yet whichis easy to service when necessary. I eliminate a number of points ofwear as well as tilting cams, compensator rods and other mechanismsheretofore employed in similar mechanisms.

I provide apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising atiltable guide, a clay gun mounted on the guide for guided movementtherealong and means for moving the clay gun along the guide generallytoward the furnace, the guide being mounted to be tiltedfrom a generallyhorizontal position to a position inclined generally toward the furnaceand downwardly to guide the clay gun in its movement toward the tappinghole. While it is possible to provide for tilting of the guide throughovenbalancing as the clay gun moves therealong toward the furnace andhence to dispense with means for-positive- "ited States Patent GApparatus of the type in question is em- 2,853,290 Patented Sept. 23,1958 ly tilting the guide, I prefer to employ means for positivelytilting the guide and also stop means for stopping the tilting of theguide when the inclination of the clay gun substantially conforms tothat desired for plugging the tapping hole so that there will be nodanger of undesired interference with the tilting movement of the gun bya coke mess in the runner immediately outside the tapping hole. When theguide is positively tilted the gun will be properly oriented and forcedinto operative position with its nose in the tapping hole. I preferablyoperate the clay gun by fluid pressure means forcing clay from the claygun into the tapping hole to plug the tapping hole.

I preferably mount an arm on the tiltable guide for guided movementtherealong and provide means for moving the arm along the guidegenerally toward thefurnace and mount the clay gun on the arm at aposition offset from the guide. Preferably the arm and clay gun arerigidly connected together so as to constitute an operative unit so thatwhen the arm is tilted the clay gun will tilt with it.

In my preferred structure I utilize a pedestal and mount the guide onthe pedestal for generally horizontal turning movement and also fortilting movement, and I mount the clay gun on the guide for generallyhorizontal swinging movement when the guide is turned generallyhorizontally and for guided movement along the guide. I provide meansfor turning the guide and means for moving the clay gun along the guidegenerally toward the furnace when the guide is pointed generally towardthe furnace.

A carrier is preferably mounted on the pedestal for tilting movementabout a generally horizontal axis generally transverse of the axis ofthe tapping hole and the guide may be mounted on the carrier forgenerally horizontal turning movement relative thereto. The carrier ispreferably mounted to be tilted from a position in which the guide isgenerally horizontal to a position in which the guide is inclinedgenerally toward the furnace and downwardly to guide the clay gunin itsmovement toward the tapping hole. A turnable member is preferablymounted on the carrier for turning movement generally about a verticalaxis and the guide is preferably carried by the turnable member, anddesirably mounted atop the turnable member, so as to be turnabletherewith. The carrier desirably carries a motor with a connectionbetween the motor and the turnable member whereby when the motor isoperated the turnable member is turned relatively to the carrier,resulting in generally horizontally turning the guide.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of. a. present preferredembodiment thereof proceeeds.

In'the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodimentof the invention in which Figure l is a side elevational view ofapparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole, the clay gun being shownin solid lines in horizontal position and the nose portion of the claygun being shown in dotted lines in inclined position and in chain linesin operative position enteringthe tapping hole of a blast furnace;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1as viewed from the left-hand end of Figure 1 but with a portion shown invertical cross sec tion;

F'gure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2but with a portion shown in horizontal cross section;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line IV--IV ofFigure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectionalview taken on the lineV-V of Figure 3.

Referring now more, particularly to the drawings, the

apparatus is mounted on a pedestal comprising two generally uprightspaced apart sections 2, the two sections 2 together constituting thepedestal. The pedestal is permanently mounted close to the tapping holeof a blast furnace and to one side of a vertical plane containing theaxis of the tapping hole. A vertical plane containing the axis of thetapping hole is designated by reference numeral 3 in Figure 3.

Trunnioned in the pedestal by trunnions 4 is a carrier 5 which rotatablycarries a turnable member 6 of generally U-shape as shown in Figure 4.The member 6 has a downwardly projecting portion 6a which is mounted inthe carrier 5 for rotation about a generally vertical axis 7. Turning ofthe carrier 5 in a generally vertical plane about the common axis of thetrunnions 4 is accomplished by a fluid motor 8. Turning of the member 6in a generally horizontal plane about the axis 7 is accomplished by afluid motor 9. Thus the carrier 5 may be tilted and the member 6 may beturned about the axis 7 relatively to the carrier 5 on which it ismounted.

The member or rods 6 carries a guide comprising two parallel straightcylindrical guide members 10. Each of the guide members 10 is mounted ateach end in one of the upstanding portions of the member 6 as clearlyshown in Figure 4.

Mounted on the guide members 10 and adapted to be guided thereby inmovement therealong is an arm 11. The arm 11 contains bushings 12through which the guide members 10 pass so that the arm is at all timesmaintained in fixed orientation relatively to the guide but is movabletherealong. Movement of the arm along the guide constituted by the guidemembers 10 iseffected by a piston in a cylinder 13 which is pivoted toone of the generally upright portions of the member 6 at 14 as shown inFigure 5. The piston rod 15 is connected with an upstanding portion 16of the arm 11 at 17. When fluid under pressure is admitted to the leftof the piston in the cylinder 13 viewing Figure 5 the arm 11 movestoward the right, and when fluid under pressure is admitted to the rightof the piston in the cylinder 13 viewing Figure 5 the arm 11 movestoward the left, the arm 11 being at all times guided by the guidemembers 10 and its orientation being determined by the orientation ofthose guide members.

Rigidly connected to the arm 11 so as to constitute therewith anoperative unit is a clay gun 18 which may be of conventionalconstruction, wherefore the structural details of the clay gun are notshown in detail. It has the usual nose or nozzle 19 through which clayunder pressure is adapted to be discharged into the tapping hole of afurnace to plug the tapping hole. The clay is contained in the bodyportion 20 of the clay gun 18 and is forced under pressure toward andthrough the nose 19 by a clay'piston operating in the body portion 20and connected through a piston rod 21 with a piston 22 in a fluidpressure cylinder 23. When fluid is admitted behind the piston 22viewing Figure 3 that piston and the clay piston are advanced to forceclay under pressure out through the nose 19 of the clay gun.

Mounted atop the arm 11 is a fluid pump 24 for maintaining underpressure a fluid, preferably hydraulic, for operating the fluid motors 8and 9 and the pistons in the fluid pressure cylinders 13 and 23.Suitable connections and operating valves are provided as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art. The clay gun 18 may be filledwith clay either through an openable door in the body portion 20 thereofor by removing the forward portion of the gun which includes the nose19. Since as mentioned above the clay gun may be conventional theprovision for filling it with clay is not shown in the drawings.

From the above description it will be understood that when the carrier 5is tilted the member 6, the arm 11 and the clay gun 18 tilt with it.Tilting of the carrier 5 and member 6 in the clockwise direction aboutthe axis of the trunnions 4 viewing Figure 4 is limited by a stop 25.

The stop 25 stops the tilting movement of the member 6 when the clay gunis disposed at the angle of inclination desired for plugging the tappinghole. The member 6 carries a lug 26 which when the member 6 is in itsdowntilted position as shown in chain lines in Figure 4 lies in betweenopposed positioning members 27 carried by the pedestal whereby toprevent turning of the member 6 about the axis 7 when in downwardlytilted position.

The operation of the apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole willnow be described. When the clay gun is not being used to plug thetapping hole it is normally disposed with its axis substantiallyhorizontal and turned clockwise from the position shown in Figure 3, i.e., at the opposite side of the pedestal from the vertical plane 3containing the axis of the tapping hole, and pointing generally awayfrom the furnace. It is while the clay gun is in that position that itis loaded.

When the time comes for plugging the tapping hole the fluid motor 9 isfirst operated to turn the member 6 in a counterclockwise directionthrough an angle of 180 viewing Figure 3, the guide members 10 and theclay gun remaining substantially horizontal. The clay gun is broughtinto the position shown in Figure 3 and shown in solid lines in Figure lwith its axis in the vertical plane 3 containing the axis of the tappinghole. Then the fluid motor 8 is operated to tilt the carrier 5 to theposition shown in chain lines in Figure 4, the angle of tilt beingdetermined by the stop 25, that angle corresponding to the angle of tiltof the clay gun desired for plugging the tapping hole. At the same timethe lug 26 lies between the opposed positioning members 27. Thus the gunis positively held in the desired alignment for introduction of its nose19 into the tapping hole. The position of the nose of the gun after thegun has been tilted but before it has been advanced into the tappinghole is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

With the gun thus positioned at the proper angle of tilt it is advanceduntil the nose 19 enters the tapping hole, such advance beingaccomplished by the piston in the cylinder 13 which moves the arm 11generally toward the furnace along the guide members 10. Since the claygun 18 is rigidly connected to the arm 11 so that the arm and clay gunconstitute an operative unit advance of the arm 11 along the guidemembers 10 insures that the clay gun will be properly advanced until itsnose enters the tapping hole. The position of the nose of the clay gunas it enters the tapping hole is shown in chain lines in Figure 1.

After the nose of the clay gun has been inserted into the tapping holeas above described the piston 22 is operated as previously explained toforce clay under pressure from the clay gun through the nose 19 and intothe tapping hole to plug the tapping hole. The nose of the clay gun isleft in the tapping hole until the clay plug in the tapping holehardens, whereupon the piston in the cylinder 13 is operated to retractthe clay gun to the position in which its nose is shown in dotted linesin Figure 1, after which the fluid motor 8 is operated to return theclay gun to horizontal position, whereupon the fluid motor 9 is operatedto turn the member 6 clockwise through an angle of 180 viewing Figure 3to the position which it occupied at the beginning of the cycle when thegun may be serviced if required and loaded for the next tapping holeplugging operation.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising afloor-mounted pedestal, a guide tiltably mounted on the pedestal, thepedestal and guide having cooperating means for limiting downwardtilting of the guide relatively to the pedestal, a clay gun mounted onthe guide for guided movement therealong and means for moving the claygun along the guide generally toward the furnace, the guide beingmounted to be tilted from a generally horizontal position to a positioninclined generally toward the furnace and downwardly to guide the claygun in its movement toward the tapping hole and means for positivelytilting the guide relatively to the pedestal, said means forcing theguide against resistance to a predetermined angle of tilt.

2. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising a mountingstructure, a tiltable guide mounted on the mounting structure, a claygun mounted on the guide for guided movement therealong and means formoving the clay gun along the guide generally toward the furnace, theguide being mounted to be tilted from a generally horizontal position toa position inclined generally toward the furnace and downwardly to guidethe clay gun in its movement toward the tapping hole, and means forpositively tilting the guide relatively to the mounting structure, saidmeans forcing the guide against resistance to a predetermined angle oftilt.

3. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising a mountingstructure, a tiltable guide mounted on the mounting structure, a claygun mounted on the guide for guided movement therealong and means formoving the clay gun along the guide generally toward the furnace, theguide being mounted to be tilted from a generally horizontal position toa position inclined generally toward the furnace and downwardly to guidethe clay gun in its movement toward the tapping hole, means forpositively tilting the guide, said means forcing the guide againstresistance to a predetermined angle of tilt, and stop means actingdirectly between the guide and the mounting structure for stopping thetilting of the guide when the inclination of the clay gun substantiallyconforms to that desired for plugging the tapping hole.

4. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising a tiltableguide, a clay gun mounted on the guide for guided movement therealongand means for moving the clay gun along the guide generally toward thefurnace, the guide being mounted to be tilted from a generallyhorizontal position to a position inclined generally toward the furnaceand downwardly to guide the clay gun in its movement toward the tappinghole, power actuated means for tilting the guide, said means forcing theguide against resistance to a predetermined angle of tilt, and fluidpressure means for operating the clay gun to force clay from the claygun into the tapping hole to plug the tapping hole.

5. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising a pluralityof generally parallel tiltable guide rods, an arm mounted on the guiderods for guided movement therealong, means for moving the arm along theguide rods generally toward and away from the furnace and a clay guncarried by the arm at a position offset from the guide rods, the guiderods being mounted to be tilted from a generally horizontal position toa position inclined generally toward the furnace and downwardly to guidethe arm to move the clay gun toward the tapping hole.

6. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising a tiltableguide, a generally horizontal arm mounted on the guide for guidedmovement therealong, the arm projecting laterally to a side of theguide, means for moving the arm along the guide generally toward thefurnace and a clay gun carried by the arm at a position offset from theguide, the arm and clay gun being rigidly connected together so as toconstitute an operative unit, the guide being mounted to be tilted froma generally horizontal position to a position inclined generally towardthe furnace and downwardly to guide the arm to move the clay gun towardthe tapping hole.

7. Apparatus for plugging a furnace tapping hole comprising afloor-mounted pedestal, a guide mounted on the pedestal for generallyhorizontal turning movement and also for generally vertical tiltingmovement, a clay gun mounted on the guide for generally horizontalswinging movement when the guide is turned generally horizontally andfor guided movement along the guide, means for turning the guide andmeans for moving the clay gun along the guide generally toward thefurnace when the guide is pointed generally toward the furnace, theguide being mounted to be tilted from a generally horizontal position toa position inclined generally toward the fur nace and downwardly toguide the clay gun in its movement toward the tapping hole, and poweractuated means for positively tilting the guide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,437,661 Kaiser et al. Dec. 5, 1922 2,364,513 Brown et a1. Dec. 5, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS 228,454 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1925 428,866 Germany May11, 1926 388,900 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1933 861,976 France Feb. 22, 1941CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,853,290 September 23, 1958 SidneyT, Morgan Column 2, line 35, for "relative' r line 21, before "6" orrods 0 ead relatively column 3 strike out "or rods"; line 22, before "10insert Signed and sealed this 23rd day of December 1958,,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE} ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

